Portable rotary table



May 7, 1940. F. s. BECKMAN PORTABLE ROTARY TABLE Filed May 11, 1938 Zre? 529mm INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,199,734 PORTABLE ROTARY TABLE Fred G. Beckman, Muskogee, Okla. Application May 11, 1938,1SerialNo. 207,177

1 Claim.

This invention relates to drilling equipment of the rotary type for oil wells and it has particular reference to a portable rotary table of durable yet light construction and its principal object resides in the provision of a novel arrangement of parts affording a rotary requiring no blocking or a rig floor supporting the same, it being necessary only to support the device upon the casing head or pack-01f head which is commonly used in connection with such equipment.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotary table operating the kelly, the latter being square or hexagonal in crosssection, which need not be removed therefrom during the drilling operations, its light weight affording such an advantage and allowing the invention, as well as the kelly, to be conveniently swung aside and out of the way while operating the drill stem, or other equipment, in and out of the well.

Still another object of the invention is manifest in the provision of a structure embodying an arrangement whereby the rotary is driven by a worm rotated by a flexible drive shaft provided with universal joints or flexible couplings aiding in expeditiously handling the invention in accomplishing the several drilling operations. Provisions are made for holding the rotary to overcome torque.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a portable rotary table possessing a combination of features calculated to speed up drilling operations and eliminate much of the expense and effort usually attendant thereupon.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the invention illustrating the rotary member in plan.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention in partial elevation showing portions cut away and showing the improvements cooperatively supported by a Kelly stuffing box.

The conventional rotary table is designed to be operatively supported by the derrick fioor and driven directly by a rigid shaft and is consequently immovable during the drilling operations. All operations, such as running drilling tools and other equipment into and out of the well, are accomplished through the rotary after the Kelly bushing is removed.

Unlike such conventional equipment, the present invention provides apparatus capable of operation, if desirable, without a derrick floor and affords free access to the well casing by reason of its portability and convenient handling.

Accordingly, therefore, the invention primarily comprises a housing I which is preferably substantially rectangular in form and which is provided, at one end, with an integral casing 2. An integral semi-circular partition 3 spans the distance between the side walls of the housing I defining a compartment 4 generally conforming to the worm toothed rotary 5 operatively disposed therein, as illustrated in Figure 1. The rotary 5 is provided with a hub 6 which has a central opening I being square or hexagonal in shape to accommodate a conventional kelly or drill stem 8. The rotary 5 is rotatably supported in the housing I, as illustrated in Figure 2, by retention plates 9 and I0 secured to the housing I by cap screws I I. Annular recesses a in the plates 9 and I0 accommodate bearings l2 and I3 whose inner races bear against annular shoulders I) surrounding the hub 6 above and below the rotary 5. The bearings l2 and I3 are suitably packed at 0 around the hub 6.

A worm I4 is rotatably arranged within the casing 2, integral with the housing I, so that its teeth engage those of the rotary 5, as illustrated in Figure 1, and is mounted on a stub shaft [5 whose operative end It is splined to receive a coupling on a driven flexible shaft (not shown). The shaft I5 is suitably provided with bearings l'l within the casing 2 and packed at (2 around the opening through which the shaft projects from the latter.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention arranged immediately above a Kelly stuifing box or pack-off head l8 which is conventionally secured to the uppermost end of the casing (not shown). A fragmentary portion of the Kelly joint 8 is shown extending through the invention and partially intothe member I 8. It is apparent that the rotary table may be operated without the conventional supports, such as a derrick floor, or the like.

Through the medium of a bracing frame l9, preferably comprised of angle iron, the invention can be tied to the rig floor or a leg of the derrick (not shown) to maintain rigidity of the device and prevent any counter-torque occasioned by the rotation of the kelly. The invention is thus maintined in position during drilling operations and can be detached, with the kelly, and swung to one side by the elevators when it is desirable to run tools in and out of the well.

Obviously, a beveled gear and pinion or ring gear and pinion may be substituted for the rotary 5 and its driving worm I4 if such an arrangement is considered desirable. The arrangement herein shown and described is more compact and, therefore, less bulky. Its light construction afiords a highly desirable unit.

Although the invention has been described with great particularity, it is obvious that certain changes and modifications may be resorted to from time to time by those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications which may be considered within the spirit and intent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a well drilling mechanism, a tubular member arranged to be secured to and supported solely by a well casing head and having an annular shoulder interiorly thereof, a second tubular member rotatably arranged within said first tubular member, having a hexagonal bore to receive a Kelly joint and. provided with an annular shoulder exteriorly thereof, spaced ball races retained jointly by the shoulder of said members intermediate the latter, a packing gland embracing said Kelly joint at the upper end of said second member, a housing above said tubular members, arranged to be mounted on said Kelly joint, a worm gear rotatably mounted in said housing and having a hub provided with a hexagonal bore to receive said Kelly joint, a Worm journaled in one end of said housing in engagement with said worm gear, a flexible drive connection on one end of the shaft of said worm, and leverage means secured to said housing. to overcome the torque thereon of said gear.

FRED G. BECKMAN. 

